mamabb

Joslina--- in my super long winded post I forgot to mention how much I believe that attitude is MORE than half the battle. In this situation, I haven't had luck with the attitude department. I am known to be a glass half-full person, and my anxiety is causing me to feel like I'm in such a rut. On that note, I do believe that alot of my anxiety comes from feeling like I'm in an unsafe environment. Much like what you said, that assignment was awful. Unfortunately, I wasn't the only one with a crazy assignment. I can't say every single day is awful, but out of 3 days I usually have two bad days. I think I will keep applying and seeing if I can come up with a part-time position. Many of the nurses on my unit suggested that, as well... it will allow me to be there less, while still sticking it out until at least the six-month point. My hope is that maybe if I am there less, I will learn to handle the unit better and become less anxious. Thank you so much for your input, it helps to hear that others think assignments like that are unsafe. Unfortunately, I think the nurses on my unit (many have been there more than 7 years, the unit used to be a sister unit to our cardiac outpatient services unit where are the caths come from, but three years ago it was moved to its own unit...) are used to all of this since they used to pull lines regularly when they were a part of the other unit. However, that said, they stopped pulling lines regularly because too many issues came up. It's different when the pull in COS, they have doctors right there should something go wrong, a luxury we don't have. I will keep trucking, and hope in a year or two that I'll be able to see this as a learning experience and not just a dreadful time:)

Thank you for your quick response! You know, that's what a few people have suggested, finding something else and switching to part-time. I'm actively putting out applications now, so maybe that is a good idea. I also think it's a good way to "test drive" another area! I know I'm not the first person to go through this, and am confident something will be the right fit :) I have stopped working 3 in a row, doing 2 on, 2 off and then 1 more... that starts this week, so we'll see if that helps, too! Thanks, again:)

I need advice in a HUGE way! I became a licensed RN this spring and obtained a position on a Cardiac Step-Down in April (2012). We deal primarily with open-heart patients and post-cath patients, of course a telemetry unit. Prior to getting my license, I'd worked in home care for 7 years. I loved the one-to-one relationship (I only had 2 clients during that 7 year period), but did miss a more fast-paced environment, as well as working with others. Tele wasn't my first choice, but I knew it would be good experience and took the advice of a friend (who has worked on the unit for 6 years) that if I didn't want traditional Med/Surg that this would be an option to gain some experience. Experience I'm getting, no doubt about that. Our unit is unique in that we do a HUGE number of admits and discharges (14 were admitted last night between the hours of 7pm and 9:30pm, most discharges occur during the day, of course). I love the people I work with, both day shift and night shift, and I know how rare that is to have such a cohesive crew. We are fortunate to be in the newest tower of the hospital, all private rooms, etc. All this aside, I am miserable. I have always been known as the super type-A person that needs a certain amount of stress in my life, often taking on several challenges at once (for example, working full-time through nursing school, all while having two young children, volunteering two days a week at their elementary school, getting diagnosed with CA and having a hysterectomy at 28) and never losing my cool. I don't get anxious, bent out of shape... always use that bit of stress to push me harder... and it's always worked; until now. I have now had 3 panic attacks, the last one occuring just prior to receiving report at work. I sought out help from my doctor when the first one happened, about 6 weeks ago, and we agreed to try 0.25 of Xanax, to which I only took a half of that on my way to work, simply to curb the physical symptoms I had been experiencing. That worked for a few weeks, though I still found myself almost obsessing about the thought of going back to work (even on my awesome 6 day vacation to the beach!). This past Thursday I had the worst attack of all, ended up taking the other half of the 0.25 and still could not calm myself. I saw my doctor yesterday, and after knowing me for 10 years he suggested that I honestly seek a new unit. I feel he is right, that going on an anti-depressant just to maintain a position on a unit doesn't seem sensable, especially since I don't have these feelings at home. Everything else in my life is going great, not a complaint. My question to all of you is what units/experiences you may suggest to me. What I don't like about my unit is: ---TELE- my phone blowing up all night causes me HUGE anxiety, which some people say will subside, others seem to still feel nervous about ---Getting so many admits as soon I walk in the door; I don't mind having many pts, it's the unsafe feeling I have when I get pts with sheaths still in place, knowing I have to pull them and still have 5 or 6 pts to see (and like last night, two had just gone into Afib and needed medical mgmt ASAP) ---Teaching (this doesn't cause me anxiety, just a bit of info to maybe help you understand what I MAY like) about cardiac issues... bores me in the worst way! The Tele and admits are the main two issues I have, and am extremely open to any/all suggestions. My hospital doesn't allow for transfer until 6 mos, which for me is in October. I don't necessarily want to move hospitals, but am willing to do so if it means peace of mind. Nursing is not a low-stress field, in general, but I feel that perhaps if I had SOME passion for the type of nursing maybe it wouldn't be so awful. The nurses on my unit say that even with my anxiety I'm doing well... but I feel I am just going through the motions and can't stand bringing it home with me. I am open to an outpatient setting, clinic, office, other hospital specialties. I know many of you have experienced what I'm going through or know of others that have... your input would be so appreciated! My career is secondary to my home life, health and well being. I don't want to feel like garbage on my days off, dreading my upcoming work days... My family deserves the old mom/wife back that didn't dwell on anything; and, I LOVE nursing, I truly do. LOVE helping, caring, teaching people how to care for themselves, sharing my knowledge, and also challenging myself, just not so much that I am emotionally spent. I KNOW there is something better out there for me! Thank you!!!!!

Hi everyone! I have never posted on here, but I have been watching for a while, and I, too, got my letter today. I'm riding the fence, big time, with those averages from last year. I am hoping that there were a few people that were a bit under those numbers, since they are averages. I remember them telling us the lowest scores during the selective admissions meeting, or were those averages? I thought they said lowest, but it has been a while. Anyone know anyone personally that got in last year? I wish you all the best of luck, we will get our chance soon, hopefully!